On June 25, a political odd couple of House Judiciary Committee members Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Bobby Scott (D-VA) joined to co-sponsor a far-reaching bill to revamp the nation’s criminal justice system: the Safe, Accountable, Fair and Effective (SAFE) Justice Act (H.R. 2944). The bill’s 37 other co-sponsors to date, evenly divided between the two parties, include all six Democrats plus two Republicans besides the chairman on the House Judiciary subcommittee Sensenbrenner leads, and to which the bill has been referred.

The SAFE Justice Act grows out of a Congressional task force which had been studying how inflexible and outmoded features of the current justice system — particularly mandatory sentencing laws bringing stiff sentences for lower-level drug offenses — over-criminalize some offenses and cause crowded prisons. As backers of the new bill point out, over the past three decades, the U.S. prison population has grown fourfold, with a nearly six-fold cost increase, when inflation is taken into account.

The SAFE Justice Act aims to reverse the recent legislative trend towards ever-greater mandatory minimum sentences and offer greater support for programs to deter recidivism. It would reduce sentences and increase alternative disposition for low-level, non-violent crimes, especially federal drug offenses (which account for the largest share of federal incarcerations, while the largest portion of inmates in state jails are there for violent crimes).

The Sensenbrenner-Scott bill points to “smarter justice” reforms made in recent years by many states, which have generally been trimming both crime and incarceration rates, through such changes as diverting first-time non-violent offenders away from the criminal justice system.

The new bill would also: authorize federal courts to create alternatives, like the drug courts many states have set up, for lower-level offenses; encourage probation and other non-prison dispositions for first-time, non-violent offenders; limit mandatory maximum sentencing to major crimes; and for good conduct reduce jail terms for most offenses by up one-third, and the length of probation by up to half.

The bill also tries to slow the creation on new criminal offenses (backers claim 2,000 have been added to the federal criminal code since 1980); requires individualized rehabilitation plans for federal prisoners; and mandates fuller, quicker disclosure of police and prosecutor files to requesting defendants. Some of the expected savings from the bill (supporters estimate this at $200 million annually) would go to bolster local police forces.

A diverse group of backers are supporting the SAFE Justice Act, including both liberals (such as the NAACP) and conservatives (like the American Conservative Union’s Center for Criminal Justice Reform). Another unlikely pairing, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union and the general counsel of Koch Industries, known for its support of conservative causes, in a joint op-ed extolled the bill as “an important step” towards fixing the nation’s “ballooning, costly and ultimately unjust federal sentencing and corrections system,” which they say “needlessly throws away lives and decimates entire communities.”

President Obama in July staged a number of events to call attention to criminal justice issues, delivering a short videotaped message from the White House, speaking on the topic at the NAACP convention in Philadelphia, and visiting a federal prison in Oklahoma. The Administration has not yet advanced its own proposal, but the president has called for Congress to act.

Two House committees Judiciary and Energy and Commerce) will consider H.R. 2944, and House Speaker John Boehner has said he supports bringing the bill to a vote on the House floor. No counterpart bill has yet been introduced in the Senate, but key members of the upper chamber say they have been working on sentencing and corrections reforms and expect to offer a proposal soon.

The client was charged with driving while impaired by drugs. We showed the DA’s office the client suffered from hyperkalemia, a medical condition caused by an elevated level of potassium which can cause fatigue, lethargy and confusion. All charges were dismissed.

Client was charged with Robbery in the Second Degree. He was with a friend who robbed a person sitting in a parked car. We were able to show the DA’s office that our client had no knowledge of his friends intent. We were able to get the felony reduced to a Disorderly Conduct which is a non criminal offense.

Client was charged with Criminal Posession of a Weapon and was facing a minimum of three and one half years. During an evidentiary hearing we were able to show that the police confuted an illegal search the gun was suppressed and the charge was dismissed.

Client was charged with Grand Larceny. It was her 7th arrest during the previous 10 years. The DA’s office was not offering a reduced charge and was requesting jail time. We got the client involved in a work and parenting program and were able to secure a plea to a misdemeanor without jail or probation.

Client was charged with Unlawful Surveilence. After his plea of guilty it was a discretionary decision to be made by the court as to weather he had to register as a sex offender. Through our efforts we were able to have him sentenced without having to register.

Client Testimonials

"I can’t thank Scott enough for helping me. I had never been arrested before and found myself in the middle of a nightmare. I was arrested for and charged with criminal Mischief in the Third degree which is a class E Felony. Scott was first able to get the charge reduced to a misdemeanor. He was then able to see that the case was completely dismissed."

T.T.Charged with Felony Assault and Criminal Mischief in Queens County

"Scott Limmer is a very knowledgeable Nassau County NY lawyer and has been extremely helpful to me and my family over 8 months of court. He knows how to handle the ADA and his tenacity has been untiring. The quality of his work is in the ending of the case, with justice being served and correct. We are very fortunate and thankful to have found Scott Limmer to represent us. Thank you Scott and God Bless"

F.L.Arrested for Robbery in the Second Degree in Nassau County

"Scott Limmer is a man of his word and an attorney with integrity above reproach. When one needs a criminal attorney it is usually the most harrowing time of your life. Scott Limmer makes a horrible situation easier. He speaks in layman’s terms and explains your situation every step of the way. He keeps the costs to a minimum and delivers beyond expectations. I would recommend choosing Scott Limmer as your attorney hands down."

A.O.Arrested for Suffolk County Felony

"I was arrested for a felony Mr. Limmer would not agree to any of the offered plea bargains. He was able to get the case dismissed. I can’t thank him enough for his hard work and professionalism."

D.D.Arrested for Falsifying Business Record in the First Degree in Nassau

"Scott helped me thru a very difficult 20 months of navigating thru the Nassau county legal system. His advice was on the money from the start to the end. Amicable, tenacious and knowledgeable, just some of the words to describe him…In the end I credit his guidance in helping me get the just court decision…But then again he knew the outcome….thanks Scott…we remain in touch to this day and my case was over almost two years ago…"

T.C.Arrested for Assault in the Third Degree in Nassau County

"Helped me thoroughly with all my traffic dealings. He is my go to guy for my company. Scott is the best."